IntrinsicTina

It's funny what we look back on years after the vacations are over. I'm thinking about road trip food. Not the oodles and gobs of burgers and fries, and disappointing cafe food but our own food from home to curb costs and extend our healthy choices. My idea of travel food was Italian chicken sandwiches on ciabatta rolls that we toted across Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming during our summer vacations. I'd boil up several chicken breasts, then pull apart the meat from the bones. Into a bowl, I would place chicken, jarred pesto sauce, sundried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil and mix. Then in a large ziploc bag, would go the mixture, ready to be spread upon the ciabatta rolls. No additional condiments needed. No mayonnaise to worry about turning and poisoning us. My husband's domain was gorp, otherwise known as trail mix. Wikipedia says that it was once known as "good old raisins and peanuts". That wouldn't fly for Tina and Rod. W...

I've just put a cap on the final episode of a Sons of Anarchy binge fest, and I'm reflecting on my own life experience with bikes, bikers, and outlaw motorcycle clubs.

24 24 24 My favorite Christmas took place in West Yellowstone, Montana. My husband and I took my daughter to snowmobile Yellowstone National Park. Sixteen, curly, honey-blonde, lightly-blemished, a new driver, full of the cockiness of youth, exuding the air of boredom that only a teenager exhibits when confronted with unfamiliar circumstances. We procured a room upon arrival, the Best Western, abandoning our habit of driving into the night, and sleeping in the car, in a bear-threatened campground. We walked the tiny town, amid parka, polar fleece, wool, and boot-wearing tourists, browsing souvenir shops and dodging sports utility vehicles towing personal snow machines, mobbing the ranger station for tour permits. Snowmobile Rentals, flurry of trying on snowsuits, gloves, and boots, Should we buy balaclavas? Let's get this party started! We depart with a guide, my husband on one machine, myself and my daughter on another, six other snow machines in our caravan, You are entering ...

24 I have a dear friend heading out to Maui for the first time next week. Since I've been there before (4 times), I've got a few suggestions of things to do and eats. Note: I've always been budget minded but I have always, always, always had fun! First, I have always rented a car; Getting from the airport to the hotels, beaches, and tourist areas requires travel. Plus, the road to Hana must be driven and takes a full day. The road to Hana is challenging, pack your patience and FOOD, opt for full insurance on your rental car, and leave early!!! Worthwhile for photo opportunities. Do not even consider the shortcut, it is not worth the risk of death or stranding. Stop early along the way for the best banana bread of your life. Anywhere, but especially at Aunt Sandy's on the Ke'anae Peninsula. Buy Fruit at the fruit stands along the way. Bananas are amazing, try to locate a fuzzy red fruit called Rambutan, for a unique taste treat. Check out http://www.mauiinformation...

Today marks 16 years of marriage between my husband and myself. I'd like to think of it as a good marriage but it's been a mixed bag. Our early years were spent in mutual admiration and adoration. We rode motorcycles, logging miles all over Washington State, including Mount St. Helens, Mt. Rainier National Park, Hurricane Ridge in OlympicNational Park, as well as Crater Lake, Glacier National Park, and Canada. A memory, that I hold dear, is Rod and I riding double up on his black Harley "bagger", along with his brother, Stephen, on his white Honda Shadow, to the Carbon Glacier. A hot, early summer day drove us up to the cooler elevations of Mount Rainier to enjoy the breezes and wildflowers.We kicked about for awhile, clad in our leathers, until the day waned and cooled then headed back down the mountain. No traffic to speak of, we gently slalom down the roadway, wide, sweeping arcs and I lift my arms and imagine I'm flying. A delicious respite, freedom from t...

Dear Renee', I saw you today, actually, I saw your image today. You were, pretty in pink, standing in front of a weeping rock wall, arms upraised, smiling to the Heavens. Wow! I cannot be sad when I see how much you enjoyed life. We were in Hawaii, on the island of Maui (your favorite), on the road to Hana with Dawn and Mark, myself, Rodney and yourself. But, this one is just you. The year was 2006, your first trip to the Islands, and you were ready to embrace the spirit of aloha. What fun to spend that time with you! Everywhere you went, you were decked out in flowers and/or a sarong. You were living in California, the rest of us were in Washington, thus we were Renee'-deprived. How fortunate we were when you decided to move to Washington. (I digress.) I remember your pedicure, shocking orange with white hand-painted plumeria, the exact shade as Mom's nails, though the two of you did not confer. I remember your toes in the sand, I should, I photographed them. It evok...

I had the privilege to be born in the richest and most powerful country on the planet. I was lucky enough to be birthed, uneventfully, in a hygienic, sterile, modern hospital, close to adequate resources in the event that labor and delivery went badly. RH-factor was already known thus measures were taken. My parents were, and remain, white, whatever that means anymore. Back in the early sixties, in America, it meant that though we were poor in the socioeconomic strata, we were automatically afforded privileges denied to other segments of our society. About the time I was toddling around with a fistful of Gerber biscuits, black Americans were fighting for the right to vote and my daddy was fighting the Viet Cong. I was lucky enough to be insulated from the ugliness. As the firstborn child, and the first grandchild, I basked in the glow of adoration, given attention, unquestioned love and affection. I imagine I wanted for nothing much until my first sibling arrived. I was lucky enough ...

1 What was your most memorable vacation? Who were you with? What did you do? How did you get there? . The truth is that I've been fortunate enough to go on many vacations in my life. I've got a wanderlust a mile wide. I would rather travel than do anything else. I derive energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration from moving through space to the next destination. Observing local flora, fauna, sights, attractions, and experiences are my motivators. Roadtrips have been my mainstay and my joy but there's nothing quite like flying long distance To land in a new place without the incremental change in climate, topography, flora, or fauna. I've flown into two vacation spots, Alaska and Hawaii. Between the two, vacationing with my husband in Maui is the best. From the time we disembark the airplane, we know we are on v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n.We left snow, dark, and cold weather behind to emerge in sunshine, warmth, and humidity. .We collect our baggage, pick up our rental car, and hit ...

Driving through Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, we commence to identify some local birds.  The display pond yields one small duck. Approximately .2-miles down the road, we hear a persistent quack.  My husband instinctively looks around the watery landscape searching for the source.  I get a big giggle, then pull out my iPad to shut off my new medication alarm...one duck quacking.

On the road again… We left our home at 2 o'clock in the morning on August 30. We are Ohio and Virginia bound to see my father and stepmother as well as my 88-year old uncle.  We plan on making many stops along the way...Glacier Natl Park, Mt. Rushmore, among others.   What's unique about this trip is that it is being made on a shoestring budget, in a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan VMI (wheelchair conversion) van hauling a woman with ALS, namely...me.  We are loaded up with all the requisite paraphernalia including power wheelchair, manual wheelchair, bedside commode, multiple pillows, my Deanna Protocol meds, prescription meds, clothes, and other crapola. A couple of rest area naps and a bank stop in Spokane.  Reluctantly we bypass "Pig Out in the Park" to stay on course for Missoula where Tom Beaudette is "keeping the light on for us".  A handicap-accessible room awaits and we actually have a confirmed reservation.  Not our norm.  A shower will be great...a...

I had my first outing using my power wheelchair, a slick blue  Permobil C300. Consistent deterioration of the muscles in my legs, arms, hands, feet, torso and neck, made the manual wheelchair not a viable option for a weekend trip. This body needs support! My husband loaded up the manual and power wheelchairs into the back of the Ford Ranger pickup truck. No wheelchair van as yet. He used a two-piece hinged portable aluminum wheelchair ramp and walked it up using the controls.  Thank God I didn't have to remain seated in it I would've felt like grandma Clampett rolling down the highway.  Anyway, we loaded up everything we could think of including my curved fat-handled silverware, scooper bowl, nonskid mat, Poise pads, supplements, waterbottles, beach towels, a body pillow to wrap around my torso and a horseshoe-shaped pillow that clamped around my neck.  Several false starts later and then down the road we went. This is a new adventure for us you ...

It occurs to me that my world has become very small, smaller in the past week, as I have started the Deanna protocol. Not through any burden or limitation placed upon me, just life keeping on life-ing.  I have been neglecting my precious meetings which brings me into physical contact with treasured friends and new acquaintances and I must examine this neglect lest I isolate myself. (One of my quirks.) Monday found me in Ritzville, extending a weekend visit with my husband and a close friend, then taking the long way home and stopping off at our cabin. Arriving home in the wee hours of Tuesday, I choose to sleep late, missing my meeting but getting a good start to the Protocol and conserving my energy. Wednesday through Friday I choose water aerobics and in so doing, opted out of my Thursday meeting due to schedule conflict, and of course to celebrate my husband's 58th birthday.  Wednesday, following aerobics, was an impromptu trip down to Portland to view deals on motor home...

This weekend marked the 12th anniversary of my marriage to my husband, Rod. Actually, our anniversary date coincided with Earth Day. I'd love to tell you that we spent the day cleaning penguins or stoically and stubbornly not using fossil fuels around the home taking up the push-mower or the humble rake but that would be a lie. We started our day seated in our Subaru trekking northward participating in the annual migration of tourists to visit the tulip fields of Mt. Vernon. We love a road trip that culminates into varied photo opportunities. Vast expanses of blooming flowers on a promised sunny day guaranteed success in that regard and it did not disappoint. Additionally we got to indulge in our passion in sampling the local cuisine as well as mingle with the locals. Our first stop was at Bill's Diner in the heart of Mt. Vernon proper, across the street from the courthouse. Normally this historic establishment caters to the business crowd Monday through Friday from 7 am t...

Old Las Vegas signs are given a new life in the Fremont area and mixes well with the new. We visited the Fremont area often for the gambling, for the sights, and for the entertainment.

We had the first day to ourselves at my sister's timeshare at the WorldMark Las Vegas when their flight was canceled. The wind kicked up and accompanied us on our side-trip to Jean and Pahrump in search of the Bonnie & Clyde Death Car. (My husband's folly) We would miss the car until another day but discovered many more at a rally in Goodman Springs. Quite by accident we found the oldest building in the State of Nevada and had a little adventure in a windstorm. We failed to find a desert tortoise though we entered a conservation area for the little buggers.

The sun rose exposing a clear, sunny day although my approach to the Washington coastline blurred the sunlight. By the time my Subaru turned through the narrow stone walls, proclaiming "Welcome to Ocean Shores", it was clear that this day at the ocean would be shrouded in cloud-diffused light. The light ocean breeze brought salt-infused air to my nostrils, that I willingly breathed deeply into my lungs. Weather-bleached saltbox houses, sea grasses, dunes, and squealing gulls are the standard in this beach community. During the week I am struck by the lack of thronging tourists. The worst of the tourists are us. Driving along the coastline, looking for public beach access in search of photogenic vantage points. We were rewarded. The discovery of the day had to be the new and picturesque New England-style community, Seabrook, just south of Pacific Beach. It was a treasure trove of photographic opportunity and we (my mother and I) meandered, stopping at will to take...

I indulged in one of my favorite activities...growing my stash. Not that kind of stash! My yarn stash. With the tough economy and my unemployment, I knew I wouldn't be purchasing much but I did manage to make a few strategic buys. Every year there is an event called the LYS Tour (aka Local Yarn Store Tour) which covers a large area in Northwestern Washington. Last year we (my mother, sister, and I) traveled as far north as Birch Bay, as far south as Kent and as far west as Bainbridge Island, and east to Issaquah. This year they added two stores out on Whidbey Island, increasing the miles we had to travel (570 miles to be exact) but providing beautiful scenery and adorable stores to visit and learn about. Last year I bought quite a bit of yarn, I think to the tune of a few hundred dollars but this year I spent less than $75 and was shocked that I spent that much. We pared down expenses by bringing food and drink but still could not resist visiting Trophy Cupcakes and bought ...

This weekend Rod and I took time to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary (without breaking the bank nor taking time off from work). Though we both would've liked to left for far flung places on Friday night, we opted to take the evening easy and leave at first light for our overnight in Portland. After searching online for days, I found a delightful Victorian Bed and Breakfast called The Lion and The Rose located in the historic neighborhood of Irvington, near the Rose Quarter. It was a good choice and turned out to be the time of year to get a great deal. Since we knew we wanted to bop around eating at local places we opted out of the breakfast portion (though we suspected it would have been wonderful to eat among those wonderful antiques in that opulent diningroom). This decision made our room cost a mere $99 for the night and our room, the Garden Room, was so cheerful, light, and warm that it felt special for having made it as a married couple for the past 10 years. After...